As an avowed animation skeptic, an endorsement from me is a little like a blessing from the Pope. (New Pope, which in this case is better than Old Pope.) So it isn’t something to take lightly when I say The Iron Giant is one of the best animated films ever. It’s a true classic, as well as Vin Diesel’s first monosyllabic animated role (and even more affecting than Groot).

Before you see Hotel Transylvania 2 – also a surprisingly entertaining, often adorable children’s film, breaking records and sure to last in theaters for quite a while – you have the chance this Wednesday and Sunday only to see the new, high definition restoration of Giant in theaters, with 10 minutes of additional scenes originally not created due to budget constraints.

Adapted from the 1968 book The Iron Man, by British Poet Ted Hughes, about a lost giant space robot scaring townsfolk by secretly eating their farm equipment, The Iron Giant explores the giant’s friendship with a young boy, and the general public’s fear and attempt to destroy him. There’s a strong E.T. vibe, but remember this was written in ’68. Most of the film was hand drawn, with more complex elements (including the robot) handled by CGI animators.

Strangely, Warner Brothers marketed the film disastrously and it floundered, making just $30 million in theaters worldwide on a $70 million budget. The degree of failure can be best judged if you consider 96% of critics on rottentomatoes.com endorse the film, with an average score of 8.2 out of 10. That’s 122 critics for, and just 5 against. RT summarizes their overall feeling like this: “The endearing Iron Giant tackles ambitious topics and complex human relationships with a steady hand and beautifully animated direction from Brad Bird.”
People who’ve seen the film agree, with well over 100,000 voting on IMDB.com giving an average score of 8.0 out of 10.

Who’s Brad Bird? Just the double oscar winning director of The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. He also directed the classic Do the Bartman, and wrote the screenplay for Batteries Not Included – 10 years before taking on The Iron Giant.

If you wish there were an animated film targeted to children but with real artistic merit and a compelling story to boot, – and, likely to be just as entertaining to the adults who bring them – you wont find a better example than this. The Iron Giant: Special Edition is an event not to be missed.

You can read the Fathom Events press release about the new version below:

Dates:

Wednesday, September 30, at 7pm,
Sunday, October 4th, at Noon.

Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes (approximate)*Note: some sources indicate there’s also an interview with the director, so assume 2 hours total.

Ticketing: Tickets are available by clicking on the orange “Buy Tickets” button. If online ticketing is not available for your location, you can purchase your tickets by visiting the box office at your local participating movie theater.

Special Fathom Features: Enjoy the The Iron Giant: Signature Edition which has been re-mastered and enhanced with two all-new scenes.

Fathom Events and Warner Bros. are excited to bring The Iron Giant: Signature Edition to select cinemas nationwide for a special event screening on Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m. local time, with an encore event in select markets on Sunday, October 4 at 12:00 p.m. local time.

When “The Iron Giant”arrived in theaters in 1999, it was hailed as an “instant classic” by Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal and the world soon learned another “giant” had arrived as well: filmmaker Brad Bird, who made his stunning directorial debut with this film and has gone on to win two Oscars, as well as worldwide acclaim for his work on both animated and live-action features.

Winner of 9 Annie Awards, “The Iron Giant” is being remastered and enhanced with two all-new scenes! The Iron Giant: Signature Edition will be re-released in theaters across North America for a special Fathom Events screening on Wednesday, September 30 with an encore event on Sunday, October 4.

“Deliciously funny and deeply affecting. And beautiful, oh so beautiful, as a work of coherent art.” Joe Morgenstern/Wall Street Journal

“An unalloyed Success.” Lael Lowenstein/Variety

“Enchanting.” Robert Ebert/Chicago Sun Times

“A lovely & touching day dream.” Owen Gleiberman/Entertainment Weekly

“Warner Brothers outstanding “The Iron Giant” is a giant leap for the studio and robot kind!” David Hunter/Hollywood Reporter